Slitting apparatus having independent resiliently supported anvil means

ABSTRACT

Anvil means for a slitting apparatus having a pair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors, and a plurality of slitting discs concentrically mounted and spaced axially along the first arbor for rotation therewith comprising a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed axially along the second arbor and elastomer means disposed and adhered, preferably bonded, between each of the rings and second arbor and mounting each of the rings for rotation with the second arbor. The elastomer means resiliently hold each of the rings in preloaded rolling engagement with at least one of the discs. Bulge free areas are defined between adjacent rings and provide for the displacement of the elastomer means whereby each ring is capable of resilient movement radially of the axis of the second arbor independently of each other.

United States Patent Rautine [54] SLITTING APPARATUS HAVING INDEPENDENTRESILIENTLY SUPPORTED ANVIL [72] Inventor: Donald E. Rautine, Erie, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Lord Corporation, Erie, Pa.

[22] Filed: March 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 127,097

[52] US. Cl "83/506, 83/347, 83/425,

[451 July 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. .luhasz AssistantExaminer-W. Donald Bray Attorney-James W. Wright [57] ABSTRACT Anvilmeans for a slitting apparatus having a pair of parallel rotatable firstand second arbors, and a plurality of slitting discs concentricallymounted and spaced axially along the first arbor for rotation therewithcomprising a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed axiallyalong the second arbor and elastomer means disposed and adhered,preferably bonded, between each of the rings and second arbor andmounting each of the rings for rotation with the second arbor. Theelastomer means resiliently hold each of the rings in preloaded rollingengagement with at least one of the discs. Bulge free areas are definedbetween adjacent rings and provide for the displacement of the elastomermeans whereby each ring is capable of resilient movement radially of theaxis of the second arbor independently of each other.

5 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JULI 8 1972 all!" R Y .@N E N NT RW 0 NA T M m E w 3 w 9 F Y B 2 g F SLITTING APPARATUS HAVING INDEPENDENTRESILIENTLY SUPPORTED ANVIL MEANS This invention relates to an apparatusfor slitting sheet material, such as elastomer, plastic, paper, metal,and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to improvedresiliently mounted anvil means for preloading individual slitting discsof a slitting apparatus while accommodating for eccentricity of theslitting discs and anvil means, variations in diameter between slittingdiscs or anvil means, flexing of the arbors, wear of the slitting discsand anvil means, and other like problems which affect the rollingengagement of the slitting discs and anvil means.

While slitting apparatus of various modes of operation are available,many of these slitting apparatus employ two parallel rotatable arbors. Aplurality of slitting discs are mounted axially along the axis of one ofthe arbors for rotation therewith and are spaced in accordance with thewidths desired to slit the sheet material. The slitting is accomplishedby having the slitting discs operating in rolling engagement with theother arbor or anvil means rotatably carried thereby so as to slit sheetmaterial upon being passed therebetween. Where the proper operation ofslitting apparatus depends upon the rolling engagement of a plurality ofslitting discs mounted on a single rotating arbor with anvil means alsocarried by single rotating arbor, eccentricity of the slitting discs andanvil means, variations in diameter between slitting discs or anvilmeans, flexing of the arbors, wear of the slitting discs and anvil meansare very critical to the prolonged successful operation of theapparatus. Since, it is substantially impossible to control the aboveproblems to a sufficient degree, there is a need to eliminate theireffect on the operation of a slitting apparatus.

In order to alleviate the above-mentioned problems, various approacheshave been suggested. One approach is to have each slitting disc receivedin a recess in the anvil means. The slitting is accomplished by thediscs slitting the sheet material while the sheet material is supportedby the portions of the anvil means adjacent the recesses. Anotherapproach has been to shear the sheet material between overlapping andengaging slitting discs rotatably carried by the respective arbors.These approaches, while successful for slitting some materials, remainunsuccessful for others.

Still another approach has been to resiliently mount the slitting discsor anvil means in an attempt to accommodate for the previously discussedproblems. However, these devices have heretofore been rather complicatedand expensive or do not provide for independent accommodation of theseproblems between slitting discs.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a slittingapparatus improved resiliently supported anvil means for accommodatingfor such problems as eccentricity of the slitting of the discs and anvilmeans, variations in diameter between slitting discs or anvil means,flexing of the arbors, wear of the slitting discs and anvil means, andthe like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved anvilmeans which are preloaded in rolling engagement with the slitting discsand allow independent accommodation of the above-mentioned problemsbetween slitting discs.

Briefly, the objects of the present invention are accomplished byproviding in a slitting apparatus having a pair of parallel rotatablefirst and second arbors, and a plurality of slitting discsconcentrically mounted and spaced axially along the first arbor forrotation therewith, improved anvil means. The improved anvil meanscomprises a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed axiallyalong the second arbor and elastomer means disposed and adhered betweeneach of the rings and second arbor and mounting each of the rings forrotation with the second arbor while resiliently holding each of therings in preloaded rolling engagement with at least one of the pluralityof discs. Adjacent annular rings and elastomer means define a bulge freearea between adjacent rings for the displacement of the elastomer meansand, thus, allows for resilient movement of the rings radially of theaxis of the second arbor independently of each other.

Some of the objectives of the invention having been stated, otherobjects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view with parts broken away of aslitting apparatus employing the improved anvil means of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating an improved anvil means and its cooperationwith a slitting disc; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view more clearlyillustrating the cooperation between adjacent anvil means and theirassociated slitting discs of the slitting apparatus of FlG. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters are employed to indicate like parts, there is shownschematically in FIG. 1 a slitting apparatus, generally designated at10, constructed in accordance with the present invention. Asillustrated, slitting apparatus 10 is supported by a supportingstructure 11 and includes a slitting section,-

generally indicated at 12, and feeding sections 13 and 14, spaced onopposite sides of the slitting section 12 for feeding sheet material Sthrough the slitting section 12.

The slitting section 12 includes spaced upstanding frame embers l5 and16between which is rotatably journaled to parallel arbors 17 and 18.Means, not shown, are provided for drivingly rotating the arbors l7 and18 in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows. While notspecifically shown, it will be understood that the journals for thearbors 17 and 18 are adjustably mounted in frame members 15 and 16 andmay be adjusted by arbor adjustment means 19.

A plurality of slitting discs 20 of substantially uniform diameter areconcentrically mounted axially along arbor 17 for rotation therewith.With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each slitting disc 20 is of annularshape and has a cylindrical periphery defining a circular cutting edge21. The slitting discs 20 are keyed on the arbor 17 for rotationtherewith by a key 23 that extends along the length of arbor l7 and isreceived in mating keyways 24 and 25 formed in arbor l7 and slittingdiscs 21, respectively. The axial spacing of the slitting discs 20 isdetermined by annular spacer sleeves 26 FlG.- 3, which are likewisekeyed to arbor 17.

The improved anvil means of the present invention is mounted on arbor 18for rotation therewith. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the improvedanvil means, in its preferred form, comprises a plurality of separateand independent anvil means, generally indicated at 30. Each of theimproved anvil means 30 comprises a first annular ring 31 concentricallydisposed on arbor l8 and keyed there for rotation therewith by a key 33that extends along the length of arbor 18 and is received in matingkeyways 34 and 35 in the arbor l8 and ring 31, respectively A secondannular ring 36 having an inside diameter greater than the outsidediameter of the first annular ring 31 is concentrically disposed aboutthe first annular ring 31. The width of the second annular ring 36 isless than the width of the first annular ring 31. A continuous annularbody 38 of elastomer is disposed between the first and second annularrings 31 and 36, and is bonded to the outside diameter of the firstannular ring 31 and the inside diameter of the second annular ring 36.The width of the body of elastomer 38 is no greater than the width ofthe first annular ring 31. With the second annular ring 36 adhered tothe first annular ring 31, it too is rotatable with arbor 18.

A plurality of substantially identical anvil means 30 are similarlymounted axially along arbor 18 for rotation therewith. In the apparatus10, here illustrated, the anvil means 30 are disposed in side-by-siderelation. It will be apparent that if greater spacing is desired, spacersleeves, such as those disposed between slitting discs 20, may beemployed between anvil means 30. The anvil means 30 have a width or arespaced such that at least one slitting disc 20 is disposed in opposedrelation thereto, The spacing of the arbors 17 and 18 are adjusted withthe cutting edges 21 of the slitting discs 20 in rolling engagement withits associated anvil means 30 such that the anvil means 30 areresiliently held in contact with the slitting discs 20, FIG. 2 and 3.While there is here illustrated only one slitting disc 20 associatedwith one anvil means 30, additional slitting discs 20 may be associatedwith a single anvil means. In addition, rather than have the slittingdisc 20 bearing in rolling engagement with the outer face of an anvilmeans 30, the slitting discs 20 may be positioned such that the cuttingedges 21 are received between adjacent anvil means 30 in rollingengagement with edges or sides thereof.

As is well known, elastomer when confined is substantiallyincompressible. However, elastomer is readily subject to displacement.Thus, in order to properly utilize the compressive resilient propertiesof an elastomer, space for its displacement must be provided. In theanvil means 30 of the present invention, such a free space, referred tohereinafter as bulge free area, is defined between the second rings 36of adjacent anvil means 30. The bulge free area is material to theproper operation of the anvil means 30 of the present invention. Byproviding a bulge free area between adjacent anvil means 30, the secondannular ring 36, FIG. 3, may be deflected radially inward relative tothe first annular ring 36 by its associated slitting disc 20 withoutaffecting the adjacent anvil means 30 since the elastomer body 38between such first and second annular rings 31 and 36 will be displacedinto the bulge free areas defined adjacent thereto. Furthermore, sincearbor 17 is normally adjusted by arbor adjustment means 19 with thesecond rings 36 of anvil means 30 resiliently held by elastomer bodies38 in contact with their associated slitting discs 20, the second rings36 will be resiliently biased radially outward relative to the firstannular rings 31 should for any reason the load placed thereon or anypart thereof by the slitting discs 20 be removed. Thus, during rotationof arbors 17 and 18, the second annular rings 36 will move independentlyof each other, either radially inward or outward of the first annularrings 31 to accommodate for problems, such as eccentricity of theslitting discs 20 and anvil means 30, variation in diameter betweenslitting discs 20 or anvil means 30, flexing of the arbors, wear of theslitting discs 20 and anvil means 30, the the like. Without theindependent movement of the second annular rings 36 of anvil means 30,it is doubtful that the above problems can be eliminated to insure thateach slitting disc 20 is functioning to effect slitting of sheetmaterial S.

With the complete anvil means for the slitting apparatus being composedof a plurality of discrete anvil means 30, it will be understood thatshould the elastomer body 38 fail or the bonds between the annular rings31 and 36 fail in any one anvil means 30 such anvil means 30 may bereadily removed and replaced. Likewise, should one of the second annularrings 36 become excessively damaged by a slitting disc 20, it can bereadily removed and replaced. Thus, repair and maintenance costs andmachine downtime are minimized.

In the drawing and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not thepurposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slitting apparatus for slitting sheet material,

a pair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors,

a plurality of slitting discs concentrically mounted and spaced axiallyalong said first arbor for rotation therewith,

a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed axially along saidsecond arbor,

elastomer means disposed and adhered between each of said rings andsecond arbor and mounting each of said rings for rotation with saidsecond arbor while resiliently holding each of said rings in preloadedrolling engagement with at least one of said plurality of discs,adjacent annular rings and said elastomer means defining a bulge freearea between adjacent rings for the displacement of said elastomer meanswhereby each of said annular rings is capable of resilient movementradially of the axis of said second arbor substantially independent ofeach other through displacement of said elastomer means into said bulgefree areas.

2. In a slitting apparatus for slitting sheet material,

a pair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors,

a plurality of slitting discs concentrically mounted and spaced axiallyalong said first arbor for rotation therewith, each of said discs havinga cylindrically periphery defining a circular cutting edge,

a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed in spaced-apartrelation axially along said second arbor,

separate and independent annular elastomer means disposed and bondedbetween each of said rings and second arbor and mounting each of saidrings for rotation with said second arbor while resiliently holding eachof said rings in preloaded rolling engagement with the cutting edge ofat least one of said plurality of discs, the space between adjacentannular rings defining bulge free areas for the displacement of each ofsaid elastomer means whereby each of said annular rings is capable ofresilient movement radially of the axis of said second arborindependently of each other through displacement of said elastomer meansinto adjacent bulge free areas.

3. In a slitting apparatus for slitting sheet material,

a pair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors,

a plurality of slitting discs concentrically disposed axially along saidfirst arbor,

first key means mounting said discs on said first arbor for rotationtherewith,

a plurality of first annular rings having a substantially uniformdiameter concentrically disposed in side-by-side relation axially alongsaid second arbor,

second key means mounting said first rings on said second arbor forrotation therewith,

a second annular ring having an inside diameter greater than the outsidediameter of said first rings concentrically disposed about each of saidfirst annular rings, said second annular rings having a substantiallyuniform outside diameter and a width less than the width of theirassociated first annular ring,

separate and independent annular elastomer means disposed and bondedbetween each of said first and second annular rings and mounting each ofsaid second annular rings for rotation with said first annular rings andsecond arbor while resiliently holding each of said second annular ringsin preloaded rolling engagement with at least one of said plurality ofdiscs, the space between adjacent annular second rings defining bulgefree areas for the displacement of each of said elastomer means wherebyeach of said second annular rings is capable of resilient movementradially of the axis of said second arbor independently of each otherthrough displacement of said elastomer means into adjacent bulge freeareas.

4. In a slitting apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each ofsaid elastomer means comprises a continuous body of elastomer having awidth no greater than the width of its associated first annular ring.

5. Anvil means for use in a slitting apparatus having a pair of parallelrotatable first and second arbors, a plurality of slitting discsconcentrically mounted and spaced axially along said first arbor forrotation therewith, said anvil means adapted to be mounted inside-by-side relation axially along the second arbor for rotationtherewith with each of said anvil means in rolling engagement with atleast one of the slitting discs and compnsmg,

a first annular ring adapted to be concentrically mounted on said secondarbor for rotation therewith,

a second annular ring having an inside diameter greater than the outsidediameter of said first annular ring concentrically disposed about saidfirst annular ring, said second annular ring having a width less thanthe width of said first annular ring, and

a continuous annular body of elastomer disposed and bonded between eachof said first and second annular rings and having a width no greaterthan the width of said first annular ring.

1. In a slitting apparatus for slitting sheet material, a pair ofparallel rotatable first and second arbors, a plurality of slittingdiscs concentrically mounted and spaced axially along said first arborfor rotation therewith, a plurality of annular rings concentricallydisposed axially along said second arbor, elastomer means disposed andadhered between each of said rings and second arbor and mounting each ofsaid rings for rotation with said second arbor while resiliently holdingeach of said rings in preloaded rolling engagement with at least one ofsaid plurality of discs, adjacent annular rings and said elastomer meansdefining a bulge free area between adjacent rings for the displacementof said elastomer means whereby each of said annular rings is capable ofresilient movement radially of the axis of said second arborsubstantially independent of each other through displacement of saidelastomer means into said bulge free areas.
 2. In a slitting apparatusfor slitting sheet material, a pair of parallel rotatable first andsecond arbors, a plurality of slitting discs concentrically mounted andspaced axially along said first arbor for rotation therewith, each ofsaid discs having a cylindrically periphery defining a circular cuttingedge, a plurality of annular rings concentrically disposed inspaced-apart relation axially along said second arbor, separate andindependent annular elastomer means disposed and bonded between each ofsaid rings and second arbor and mounting each of said rings for rotationwith said second arbor while resiliently holding each of said rings inpreloaded rolling engagement with the cutting edge of at least one ofsaid plurality of discs, the space between adjacent annular ringsdefining bulge free areas for the displacement of each of said elastomermeans whereby each of said annular rings is capable of resilientmovement radially of the axis of said second arbor independently of eachother through displacement of said elastomer means into adjacent bulgefree areas.
 3. In a slitting apparatus for slitting sheet material, apair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors, a plurality ofslitting discs concentrically disposed axially along said first arbor,first key means mounting said discs on said first arbor for rotationtherewith, a plurality of first annular rings having a substantiallyuniform diameter concentrically disposed in side-by-side relationaxially along said second arbor, second key means mounting said firstrings on said second arbor for rotation thereWith, a second annular ringhaving an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of saidfirst rings concentrically disposed about each of said first annularrings, said second annular rings having a substantially uniform outsidediameter and a width less than the width of their associated firstannular ring, separate and independent annular elastomer means disposedand bonded between each of said first and second annular rings andmounting each of said second annular rings for rotation with said firstannular rings and second arbor while resiliently holding each of saidsecond annular rings in preloaded rolling engagement with at least oneof said plurality of discs, the space between adjacent annular secondrings defining bulge free areas for the displacement of each of saidelastomer means whereby each of said second annular rings is capable ofresilient movement radially of the axis of said second arborindependently of each other through displacement of said elastomer meansinto adjacent bulge free areas.
 4. In a slitting apparatus, as set forthin claim 3, wherein each of said elastomer means comprises a continuousbody of elastomer having a width no greater than the width of itsassociated first annular ring.
 5. Anvil means for use in a slittingapparatus having a pair of parallel rotatable first and second arbors, aplurality of slitting discs concentrically mounted and spaced axiallyalong said first arbor for rotation therewith, said anvil means adaptedto be mounted in side-by-side relation axially along the second arborfor rotation therewith with each of said anvil means in rollingengagement with at least one of the slitting discs and comprising, afirst annular ring adapted to be concentrically mounted on said secondarbor for rotation therewith, a second annular ring having an insidediameter greater than the outside diameter of said first annular ringconcentrically disposed about said first annular ring, said secondannular ring having a width less than the width of said first annularring, and a continuous annular body of elastomer disposed and bondedbetween each of said first and second annular rings and having a widthno greater than the width of said first annular ring.